stuck on 800-900 cal please help..

Hi,

I am quite new to this site, this is my first post, and I really need some advice/help from anyone who has experienced my situation or who can offer advice.  I have been dieting for only about 2 ½ months now and have lost about 20lb, right now I weigh about 141lb, I am about 5’10. I eat just 800-900 calories per day and exercise 4-5 days per week (45 minute jogs). I know this is not healthy for me but I just can’t make myself go higher than this, I am so use to this intake now and am so scared that I will gain the weight back. I still want to lose a few more lb also but right now I find I am losing no weight. I don’t know what to do, if I exercise more I know that will be bad because my calorie intake is so low. Is there a way I can increase my calorie intake and not gain any weight?

Please help

Thank you

Oh my...

You really need to be eating more, which you clearly are aware of. You could probably eat 2000 cals a day, not do any exercise, and not gain. In fact, it would probably do you some good since you obviously aren't even coming close to meeting nutritional requriements. You WILL lose weight (not that you need to because you are already at a very healthy weight), if you create less of a calorie deficit. And please, do not do any exercise with your current calorie intake.

I know i should be eating that much but i just dont think i could make myself do it right now. Im too scared i will gain the weight back. Would it be better to slowly increase, like maybe 100 calories a week ? Would that be better if i didnt want to gain the weight back.. Or should i do it fast and just go straight up to 2000 in one day?I am really confused...

I would do whatever you need to do to get an adequate amount of nutrition and calories in your diet. If that means increasing by 100 every week, then that's what you should do.

I just threw 2000 out there as an approximate amount that you could probably get away with without gaining. I'm not saying thats exactly where you need to be, you should use the tools on this site to establish that yourself.

Also, it sounds like you might have some bigger issues with food than you think. Have you ever considered seeing a nutritionist or getting some form of outside help?

Original Post by bananalover7:

I know i should be eating that much but i just dont think i could make myself do it right now. Im too scared i will gain the weight back. Would it be better to slowly increase, like maybe 100 calories a week ? Would that be better if i didnt want to gain the weight back.. Or should i do it fast and just go straight up to 2000 in one day?I am really confused...

i dont want to seem mean but if you've stopped losing on 800-900 calories then weight gain is inevitable when you increase, BUT WORTH IT!! you can't sustain yourself on so little calories forever. the halt in loss is due to a decline in your metabolism. i personally believe it's better to increase to an appropriate level...maybe 1500-1600 initially and continue with that amount so that you aren't STARVING...because right now you're starving. you might gain a few pounds but it will level off quickly if you stay consistent and your body knows that it will be fueled adequately.

once you have restored your metabolism you can decrease to 1300-1400 calories for weight loss. you will then lose at a slow and steady pace that will be more likely to be permanent than the loss you have achieved from starving yourself. does this make sense?

i hope it helped at least a bit. 

Trikki - Thank you so much for the advice, so slowly increasing is ok? Yeah I know 2000 was just an estimate, I have researched many times was my normal intake should be, it is around 2000. I know I have some issues, I just don’t think I would be able to see a nutritionist about it, I guess in a way it would make it too real for me...

Chrissy - So I am pretty much certain of weight gain whether I slowly increase my calories or do it fast? I know I should go up to 1500 asap but I am really afraid about this..

Thank you both so much for your advice

you will gain weight at first, but dont worry because you will lose it pretty soon.

im tall young guy and i was eating your amount, maintaining on 150lbs~ with 800 cals a day, now after recovery from eating disorder im living the same life with activity, just eating 3000~ cals a day, and my weight now is 153. during the recovery i used to eat about 2000~ and i gained some weight, maybe about 10lbs but it didnt change body shape almost at all. but then body gets used to it, and since its not starving anymore it just shuts down starvation mode and everything is alright

increase your calorie intake as soon as possible, just expect the weight gain, its impossible to fix metabolism without gaining weight, that is the system of human body.!